Woods, Helen (Burge)

Helen (Burge) Woods, 96, died Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014, at Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at Goettsch Funeral Home in Anamosa officiated by Pastor Laurie Riley. Burial will be at a later date.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at .

Surviving are her daughters, Cheryl (David) Marshall of Anamosa and Denise (Clark) Beltz of Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren, Lisa (Monty) Beal of Coralville, Julie Brophy of Texas, Shelly (Matthew) Armstrong of Waverly, Jenny (Mike Thibodeaux) Beltz of Cedar Rapids and Brandon (Amy) Beltz of Davenport, Fla.; 12 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and a sister, Genevieve Strong.

Helen was born Oct. 12, 1917, in Mount Vernon, Iowa. She was the daughter of Lloyd and Marie (Belk) Burge. She was a 1935 graduate of Mount Vernon High School and attended Cedar Rapids Business College for two years. On Jan. 26, 1941, Helen and Edward J. (Bud) Woods were married in Kahoka, Mo. Helen worked at Armstrongs in Cedar Rapids for many years as a bookkeeper. She was a member of Bethany Congregational Church in Cedar Rapids for over 60 years serving as organist/pianist. She enjoyed music, playing in dance bands, knitting, crocheting, camping and the family's annual vacation to Minnesota. Helen and Bud enjoyed spending time at their summer cabin in Guttenberg and wintering in New Mexico. Helen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend and will be dearly missed.

A warm thank you to Dr. Vernon, Helen's long time physician and his staff and to those at Jones Regional Medical Center and Above & Beyond Hospice for their loving care of Helen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous.

Published in The Gazette Jan. 6, 2014.